Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 209: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~ ~ “~ {As more, literally speaking, the darkness of the caverm 4s * > . ~ ~*~ he made visible by the flame of a tiny wax taper. Dick waited till it had burntup a little, then, dhe moment he cast his eyes around him, uttered a cry of surprise, in which satisfaction was strongly mingled. In fact, only a few paces before him was, he believed, the very identical opening in the rock through wich he had sc recently made his way. Even in the darkness, had he groped forward hali a dozen steps at the utmost he would have discovered it. Near the walls ot the cavern the ground was damp and wet, so that every step he took left a distinct imprecsion behind it. Noticing this, he looked closely down at the flooring of the passage he had just discovered, and was rejoiced te find traces of recent footprints upon it. With rapid, flying steps, he hurried on, and the reat moment, with a sigh of unutterable, inexpressible relief, found himself once more standing in the open air. He could scarcely believe even then in the reality of his escape and of the extraordinary events that had so recently occurred. , Did not the presence of the strangerand his awful fate seem more like a wild dream than aught else ? He was recalled to a full and perfect consciousness by hearing his name pronounced by a voice whose accents he knew full well. He uttered a word in réply and hurried: on. Fain would he have kept from Maud the horrifying details of the scene he had witnessed, but she was per- sistent in her inquiries, and he had no resource but to tell her alt. . She was overcome with horrur and dismay, and when the final catastrophe was described, shuddered from head to foot. ‘¢ And—and,” she exclaimed, with blanched lips, “do you really think that there is no means of freeing him from his present terrible situation ?” Dick shook his head. “None whatever,” he replied. “The nature is euch that hundreds of tons of earth must have fallen down and choked up the mouth of the passage, and it would require the labor of many hands for a long periad to open it again.” ‘‘ And before that timne——” “He would be dead,” added Dick, “if he pe not so already.” * But his object in coming here ?” said Maud—“ what can have induced him to do so? Howstrange that he should walk thus to his own death!” “Strange indeed! But from the muttered words I over- heard, and from the momentary glimpses I obtained of the inner cavern, I feel sure that that man, whoever he may be, had murdered some one, and, in order to conceal his crime, had placed the remains of his victim there, blocking up the outlet with the huge mass of rock I spoke of.” ‘‘ HorribJe—horrible !” “Truly so; but what astrange retribution there is in it all. I feel certain that the poor wretch had been haunted and terrified by continual apprehensions that the body of his poor victim was rot safe—that by some means or other it had managed to escape; that feeling had grown and grown upon him until ho could resist it no longer, and so, you see, he had made his way to this lonely spot, perhaps choosing to do so on this night of fearful storm, because he would then be more likely to be unnob- served.” 7 As she listened, Maud’s terror seemed to grow greater and greater. Probably she began now fully to realise the awful event. She sank back slowly, and would have fallen had not Dick stretched out his arm to save her. “ Phis has been too much for you,” he exclaimed; “I feared it woe Dg, e-Fo> were so persistent, thatI could not refuse.” “ No—ne,” sbe mnurmureit, feebly, “it is not that, Dick, so much that causes this dreadful feeling of faintness as it is the want of food.” “ Of course it is!” cried Dick, whose pangs a/ hunger had for the time passed away—"“ of course itis! I forgot that. Yow shall uot remain much longer without rhat semper ds” Yl A et ico Ss \ ; ‘> a: d THE KNIGHT OF THE ROAD. rc ee ee EL ALLE, CLL LL LLL LLL, DL DLO LALLA ‘ oe “Ass et a Ba i nee pie oe a me ah ce 5 Ao oe vs =e) o A Le ven Sit rf. “. 1581 “¢ No—no, Dick, do not—do not leave me!” “ But I must. Believe me, you will be quite safe. I will hasten back with all possible despatch. There is no difficulty in the matter—none whatever; I shall soon return.” Not without much difficulty did Dick succesd in tear- ing himself away. Having at last parted, however, he hurried quickly towards the foot of the pathway, and ascended with much greater speed than was at all consistent with his personal safety. : Fujl of eagerness, he bounded on, never pausing until close to the brink of the excavation. Then he stopped a little to recover his breath and to glance around him. As he fully expected, yet, nevertheless, to his great eaeiactn, he found that no human being was in sight. Cautiously, then, he raised himseif up, until Ke fairly stood upon his feet in the meadow. The night was still squally and dark; every now and then the wind blew furiously, and at times a few drops of rain would be carried towards the earth with terrific violence. ‘So much the better,” muttered Dick, as he took note of the aspect of the weather—“so much the better. \& am less likely to meet with any person abroad.” . Quite at random he struck across the meadow, hoping ere long to find himself near to a small village, or else some habitation where he should be able to obtain the articles he required. Presently, feeling certain that no ond was near, he in- creased his speed, for he knew full well how lonely Maud would be left to herself at the bottom of the excavation, and was desirous of returning to her as soon as possible. As he advanced he looked scrutinisingly around him, and at length attered an ejaculation of satisfaction. Far away in the darkness he could perceive a faint twinkling hght, evidently proceeding from the window of some habitation. What kind of place this might be he had of course no idea, yet he hastened towards it full of hope. Fxm its position, and the nature of the ground around, 3 he was not long in coming to the conclusion that it was a farm-bouse, and having made this discovery he paused awhile, scarcely knowing whether to apply there for what he wanted. But time was precious, and as he looked about him he could not see a trace of another human dwelling. It might be that he would have to trarel miles before he came to a village. This probability decided him, and at once quickening his steps, he made his way in a straight line to tho farm- house. Having reached it, he knocked ioudly at the door. Somo delay took place before it was opened. A ruddy-faced girl affpeared upon the threshold, whe - lnyited him to enter. The scene that now met Dick’s view was one that con- trasted very strongly with that which he had just left. A place more bereft of comforts than the old quarry could scarcely be imagined, and certainly it would be hard indeed to find a place where they were more mani- fest than at this farm-house. ‘he huge kitchen was lighted up by the ruddy glara of the fire piled high upon the hearth. Around were seated several persons of all ages, chiefly comprising the family of the farmer. _ An eager gaze was turned upon Dick as soon as he entered. ; It was quite an event for anyone of his appearance to cross their threshold. Dick took off his hat and bowed politely. ““ Well, sir,” said a voice, proceeding from the chimney corner, “will you be good enough to tell us what you want ?” Dick looked towards the fire, aud there sawa small red-faced man seated in a high-backed, oid-fashioned hair. ; “T have come to ask a favor,” said Dick. “It is that you will supply me with a basket of provisions, for which { am willing to pay you liberally.” This probably was about the strangest request that anyone of Dick's appearance could possibly make. -) Eomicbooks..co